Journalists have traditionally sought to provide news and information in an accurate, timely and accessible manner to enable the public to make informed decisions. Yet journalism is in flux, with the digital age blurring boundaries of news production and consumption between professionals, citizens and activists. The aim at the Graduate School of Journalism is to develop graduates who understand the evolving media environment and use journalistic practices to contribute to meaningful public discourse across all forms of media.
The Master of Journalism (MJ) degree is a full-time, intensive program which includes a summer internship. It provides students with professional experience and academic grounding to help them prosper in a digital knowledge economy. Students acquire the knowledge and practical skills they need to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the evolving digital media ecosystem, developing skills such as investigative reporting, web, audio and video production, data visualization, virtual reality and social media analytics.
Our distinctive approach to journalism education has two components: academic specialization and professional training. Students undertake a program of study focused on an academic area — relevant to a student's background and passions. Paired with the academic teaching is hands-on training in multimedia production alongside experienced professionals.
UBC Journalism is a unique, boutique masters program in one of the most diverse and beautiful cities in the world. We are an award-winning program modeled on a small Liberal Arts college with small class sizes and one-on-one attention. Students can tailor the program around their own passions, taking courses that reflect evolving methods, practices and technologies in journalism. Students have contact with professors both in and outside of the classroom, while faculty and staff mentor students on freelancing opportunities, internships and career options.
Faculty members come from the highest levels of major media organizations. They include recognized leaders in digital journalism and media scholarship who combine professional experience and academic research and scholarship. We pride ourselves on our student-centred approach to teaching, often continuing to mentor them long after they graduate. The program provides graduates with the optimal mix of academic theory and practice to succeed as a journalist.
Our alumni have gone on to successful careers at major media organizations around the world. A recent alumni survey shows UBC Journalism graduates have found their training to be instrumental in their career advancement:
Recent graduates have taken positions at CBC Vancouver, Radio-Canada, CBC Toronto, CTV, Al Jazeera English, Toronto Star, The Tyee, the Walrus, The New Yorker, Google (media outreach), Dalai Lama for Peace and Education (web-based programs), the Vancouver Sun, Angus Reid Public Opinion, Global News Toronto, Global BC, the Globe and Mail, Vice, Huffington Post, New York Times, JP Morgan (Product Strategy), Business In Vancouver, Discourse Media, David Suzuki Foundation, and in media and communications positions in various NGOs and post-secondary institutions.
